Page 355 - DEDU504_EDUCATIONAL_MEASUREMENT_AND_EVALUATION_ENGLISH

Unit 30 : Essay Type Test: Advantages and Limitations

(a) Defects from the Point of View of Students Notes
(i) The essay type tests are less objective and so they lack of validity. This type of test can
reveal child’s cramming capacity only.
(ii) These tests lack reliability. A student is compelled to have a selective reading. He depends
more on guess papers and so there is an element of chance.

(iii) It keeps the students busy and fall of nervous tension. The study does not spread over the
whole year and is limited to a short period just before the examinations. Thus a habit of
irregular study is developed in the student.
(b) Defects of Essay-type Tests from the Point of View of the Teacher
(i) The teacher covers only a limited and important portion of course because his aim is to
see that maximum number of his students pass the examination.
(ii) The teaching programme of the teacher is wholly examination oriented and the basic
principle of teaching his students are given least consideration.
(iii) The teacher is compelled to encourage his students to cramming which is not a psychological
method of teaching.
(iv) Since a teacher is judged by the results of his students so everything becomes subservient
to the examinations.
(v) To show good results sometimes the teacher devotes a good deal of his time to indulge in
guess work which affects his teaching
(c) Defects from the Point of View of Achievement
(i) Essay type tests are not comprehensive and some students may get good marks only
because the questions have been set from the portion prepared by them.
(ii) These tests are not objective and the score of a student depends on various factors such as
Examiners mood and whims etc.
(iii) This type of tests is not useful from the point of view of improvement. They fail to throw
light on the defects of teaching-learning process or the defects of the curriculum.
From the above it can be concluded that essay type examination is not a correct method of
evaluation in commerce. The improvement in system of evaluation is possible if following
suggestions are given due consideration.

What is analytical method of grading in essay type questions ?

Self Assessment
2. Fill in the blanks :
(i) Essay type tests provide an opportunity to the child to show his initiative, ______, fertility
of their imagination.
(ii) Essay types tests are quite Commonly used for ______ purposes.
(iii) Essay type tests are less ______ and so they lack of ______.
(iv) In essay type examination an improvement is possible if ______ are spread over the
whole course.

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